Susan “Michelle” Rigney:
I had the power to change my life
by June Zaragoza, MPH, RD/LD

Michelle says that she wasn’t exactly miserable before losing weight, but she didn’t want to live that way the rest of her life. Her extra weight got in her way. She states “I didn’t want to suffer that fate, (get diabetes or have a stroke), become another statistic.” She realized she had the power to change her life and weight loss surgery gave her the opportunity.

>She chose the bypass because she felt it was stronger medicine. She felt she could get away with more with the band and was done with getting away with stuff: “I wanted a way to teach me how to eat again.”

>Now how does she feel after losing over 165 lbs? “I wake up every day happier, I feel better in my own skin.” She is now the best version of herself. She used to worry about her appearance, but now “I no longer worry about how the world sees me. I can breathe better, move around better, and my body doesn’t ache anymore.” She exercises regularly, takes her vitamins, and is even thinking about going into the nutrition field because, “It would be nice to learn the ins and outs of it.” Also she would be able to sympathize with her patients.

>When asked what things she wished she’d known in the beginning she stated: “I wish I’d known that I could have had it the whole time with diet and exercise, but I guess I needed a kick in the butt from the doctor and others. Sometimes you need help.”